The shaping of our brain by our behavior offers us an extraordinary opportunity: While we cannot choose our genetic makeup, we can decide how we invest our time and energy. Maximizing our opportunities for a full life requires effort, discipline, and generosity. But the payoff more than equals the investment: In protecting the organ that largely determines how we negotiate and relate to the world, we can help assure that every stage of our lives is as rewarding as it can possibly be. Your brain is shaped by the life you live. The right mental, physical, and spiritual practices protect your mind, so you can have the very richest life possible.

It’s about time we get a grip on the handshake. Yes, that ubiquitous, courteous, egalitarian gesture. Politicians, athletes and businesspeople alike depend on it to demonstrate trust and respect. But in the wrong hands, affection can become infection. Shaking hands is a pretty good way to get yourself sick, not necessarily with Ebola, but with a million other germs that can cause colds and flu.

The news: It turns out meditating is good for more than just quiet time: It can actually help us fight the cripplingly high stress levels we experience during our busy lives, in the office or elsewhere. Scientists from Harvard University and the University of Sienna recently found that meditation is so powerful it can change the physiology of a person’s brain, resulting in positive changes like a decrease in anxiety and depression.

Many of us have grown up drinking tap water without thinking twice about it. The availability of potable drinking water is a cornerstone of developed countries. Many developing, or third-world, countries often provide inadequate access to drinkable water, and the water from the tap is frequently contaminated with pathogens, suspended solids, toxins and/or disease-carrying organisms.

Studies presented here today at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting find that the typical, modern Western diet, when consumed by the mother, may hinder the development of a baby’s brain while still in the womb. That same diet can lead to depression among adolescents, and contribute to dementia and Parkinson’s disease in older adults.

Researchers from the University of Auckland have discovered that olive leaf extract has the ability to decrease insulin resistance and increase the production of insulin by the pancreas. This is one of the main problems that most diabetes patients suffer from – the lack of proper insulin balance in the body.

Constant energy relies on three key factors: sleep, exercise, and eating natural, organic food. For a bigger boost, you may want to try any one of these 10 supplements to help the body clear out the toxin overload.

If you have traveled to Mexico then chances are that you’ve seen the vibrant, scarlet-hued herbal tea known as hibiscus. Commonly referred to as “sour drink” in Iran, hibiscus not only is a refreshingly tart brew but also has been used worldwide as an effective medicinal beverage. Rich in vitamin C, alkaloids and bioflavonoids, this bright-red elixir is traditionally used for supporting respiratory and cardiovascular health, lowering blood pressure, maintaining fluid balance and alleviating insomnia.

Fluoridation, the process of adding fluoride to public water supplies in an effort to prevent cavities, has courted controversy since its introduction in the US during the 1940s. Now, the prestigious medical journal The Lancet has published a report that supports what opponents of fluoridehave long been arguing. In essence, the journal article pointed to the fact that fluoride is a developmental neurotoxin.

Grounding yourself is a mechanism by which you’re able to stabilize your energies, center your mind, and focus on the moment. As a result, you’re able to take a deep breath, step back, and focus on you for that very moment – no matter the time and place.

High-quality teas—green tea in particular—contain polyphenol antioxidants that are recognized for their disease prevention and anti-aging properties. Drink approximately three to four cups per day to reap optimal results.

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